Multi-needle embroidery machines



March 8, 1966 1. HlNKO ETAL MULTI-NEEDLE EMBROIDERY MACHINES Filed May 24 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 l I lun F IG. 2

INVENTOR5. Jose-pu H/NKo ADoLPH PQAEMAss/NG Y March 8, 1956 J, H|NKO ETAL 3,238,904

MULTI-NEEDLE EMBRO IDERY MACHINES Filed May 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 F lG. 3

IHHIIIIlllllllllilullllln INVENTORS. JOSEPH H/NKo Y ADOLPHPQAEMAss/NG MalCh 8, 1966 J, HINKO ETAL 3,238,904

MULTI-NEEDLE EMBROIDERY MACHINES Filed May 24, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. JOSEPH H/NKO ADULPH PEMASSING March 8, 1966 J. HlNKo ETAL MULTI-NEEDLE EMBROIDERY MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 24, 1962 FIGB INVENTORS. JSEPH HlA/K ADULPH PAEM ASS/NG United States Patent O 3,238,904 MULTI-NEEDLE EMBROIDERY MACHINES ll'oseph Hinke, Glen Oaks, and Adolph Praemassing, Freeport, N.Y., assignors to Do-All Quilting & Embroidery Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed May 24, 1962, Ser. No. 197,385 6 Claims. (Cl. 112-118) This invention relates to multi-needle embroidery machines.

One object of this invention is to provide in a highly improved machine of the character described, means to permit the cloth supporting carriage to have greater movement longitudinally as well as transversely, relative to the xed support on which the needle actuating mechanism of the machine is mounted.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a machine of the character described, means to bias the carriage to normal position from any position to which it is moved.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a strong, rugged and durable machine of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, which shall be smooth and positive in operation, which will permit a greater variety of embroidery designs and which shall yet be practical and eicient to a high degree in use.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplied in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown `an illustrative embodiment of this invention,

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of one end of a machine ernbodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2 2 of FlG. 1;

FIG. 3 is one end View of the machine of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4--4 of FIG. l;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the machine with parts broken away and in cross-section;

FIG. 6 is an opposite end View of the machine of FIG. l;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 8 8 of FIG. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a multi-needle embroidery machine embodying the invention. Multi-needle embroidery machines are well known in which a carriage supporting cloth or other sheet material to be stitched, is moved both longitudinally and transversely while the material is fed step by step and multineedle mechanisms mounted on a fixed support stitch the cloth, with provision to stop the movement of the carriage while the needles go down into the cloth or other material to be stitched, so as not to bend or break the needles.

One ditiiculty with prior machines of this kind has been that the stroke of the carriage, both longitudinally and transversely, has been relatively short. As will appear hereinafter the carriage herein has considerable stroke due to certain changes and improvements made in prior machines.

The machine 10 comprises a stand, frame, table or support 11 having a table top 12 supported on corner legs 13 at one end and on corner legs 14 at the opposite end.

Legs 13 are interconnected by a horizontal cross-brace 15 while legs 14 are interconnected by a horizontal crossbrace 16.

ice

The multineedle stitching mechanism (not shown) is supported on the frame 11. It may be of usual construction.

The ends of cross-braces 15 and 16 are formed with ball sockets 18 receiving balls 19 at the lower end of universal connector rods 20. Hold down plates 20a keep the balls 19 in sockets 18. Rods 20 extend upwardly to a level above the level of table top 12. Connector rods 20 have balls 21 at their upper ends received in ball sockets 22 in a pair of transverse horizontal, parallel, coplanar cross-bars 23 and 24. Hold down plates 22a keep the balls 21 in their sockets 22. Said cross-bars 23, 24 are interconnected by a pair of parallel, longitudinal rods 26 fixed to said cross-bar in any suitable manner, thereby forming a horizontal carriage 28.

Due to the universal joints between the rods 20, the carriage 28 and the cross-braces 15, 16, said carriage may move longitudinally and transversely simultaneously. Cloth or other sheet material, or padding material to be stitched, may be fed by means of rollers 30 mounted on the frame 28, by means of well known bracket means 31. One of the rollers has a shaft 33 which is driven or rotated in the manner hereinafter explained. The means for interconnecting the rollers 30 for simultaneous feeding of the material to be stitched, is not shown since it is well known.

It will be noted that the cross-braces 15, 16 are near the lower ends of the legs 13, 14 respectively, whereby to permit considerable movement of the frame 28 in any horizontal plane due to the length of the connector rods.

Means is provided to move the carriage 28 as well as to rotate the rollers 30 and operate the needle mechanism (indicated by numeral 35). To this end, there is provided a second stand 40 which may be fixed to stand 11 if desired. Stand 40 is located beyond one end of stand 11 and supports a motor 41 at a lower level, .a box 42 at a higher level, and a second box 43 at right angles to and spaced from box 42, both boxes being located above table top 12 and beyond one end thereof.

Box 43 has a pair of end vertical transverse walls 44 connected by longitudinal vertical walls 45. Walls 44 Support a rotary shaft 46 carrying a worm 47 within the box. Worm 47 may have larger feed angle or helical tooth portions, and smaller no-feed angle or circular tooth portions. Shaft 46 carries a pulley belted to motor 41 by belt 48. Shaft 46 is connected by an eccentric connection 50 to oscillate the needle mechanism 35 in the well known manner.

Journalled in walls 45 is a cross-shaft 51 carrying a worm wheel 52 meshing with worm 47, thereby imparting an intermittent rotation to shaft 51 for the purpose hereinafter appearing. Shaft 51 carries pinion 53 which meshes with pinion 54 on shaft 54a, journalled on one wall 45, and which in turn :meshes with Ianother pinion 55 on a shaft 56 :located above shaft 46, and which is journalled in walls 45 of box 43. Slidably mounted on suitable tracks on the other wall 45 of box 43, is a slider 57 carrying followers 58. On shaft 56 is a cam 59 disposed between and engaging the followers. As shaft 56 rotates, the cam 59 reciprocates the slider 57.

Pivoted to slider 57 on pin 60 is a link 61 carrying a sleeve `62 slidable on a shaft 63 supported on brackets 64 fixed to the underside of bar 23. As slider 57 reciprocates, link `61 will reciprocate the frame 28, while allowing transverse movement of the frame. Such movement is permitted because sleeve 62 slidably receives the shaft 63.

Shaft 56 Vis also journalled in one of the end walls 70 of box 42, and carries a bevel gear 71. End walls 70 are interconnected by'transverse walls 72. Journalled in walls 72 is a shaft 74 carrying a bevel gear 75 meshing with gear 71. Slidably mounted on one wall 72 of the box is a slider 76 which reciprocates on -suitable tracks,

in a direction at right angles to the direction of sliding movement of slider 57. Slider 76 carries followers 77. Shaft 74 carries a cam 79 disposed between said followers '77. As cam 79 rotates, the slider 76 will reciprocate transversely.

Fixed to slider 76 is a pin 80. Pivoted to pin S0 is a link 81. Fixed to the table top 12 are lugs or projections 85 formed with horizontal, aligned bores 86. Extending through said bores 86 is a horizontal rotary, non-slidable shaft 87 fixed to links 88, which extend upwardly and are pivoted at -their upper ends by pivot pin 89 to the outer end of link 81. Link 81 has one end sandwiched between links 88. It will now be observed that as slider 76 reciprocates, shaft 87 will oscillate about its axis.

Fixed to Ishaft 87 are spaced pairs of spaced arms 90 extending upwardly and carrying at their upper ends, pins 92. Sandwiched between each pair of arms 90 and pivoted to pin 92 is a link 93 extending inwardly and being provided a-t its inner end with a sleeve 94 through which slidably extends one of the longitudinal rods 26.

Lugs 85a extend from the opposite side edge of table top 12. Iournalled in said lugs is a longitudinal shaft 87a to which are fixed arms 90a carrying pins 92a at their upper ends.

Pivoted to pins 92a are links 93a provided with sleeves 94a through which the other longitudinal rod 26 slidably asses.

p It will now be understood that as slider 76 is reciprocated `and shaft 87 oscillated, arms 90 will reciprocate the carriage 28 ltransversely, while allowing longitudinal movement of the carriage. This latter movement is permitted because rods 26 may slide in sleeves 94 94a. Arms 90a will oscillate with the oscillation of arms 90 to balance the m-ovement of the carriage.

Means is provided to intermittently rotate shaft 33 in the same direction, as the carriage is reciprocated longitudinally and transversely.

To this end shaft 46 carries a cam 100 which engages lug 101 on a connector 102 pivoted as at 102a to the lower end -of a crank 104 pivoted in a shaft 105 journalled on wall 106 fixed to one wall 72 of box 42, in spaced parallel relation thereto. Thus, as shaft 46 rotates, crank 104 will oscillate about shaft 105. On said shaft is a ratchet wheel 108. Pivoted to crank 104, as at 109 is a pawl 110 engaging the ratchet wheel 108 and spring pressed Ithereagainst. Oscillation of crank 104 will hence cause step by step advance of ratchet wheel 108. A pawl 112 pivoted as 4at 112a to bracket 113 on the box 42 is spring pressed against the ratchet wheel and prevents back rotation of the ratchet wheel.

Fxed to the ratchet wheel 108 for rotation therewith is a pinion 115 meshing with a pinion 116, fixed on a shaft 116a journalled in wall 106. Pinion 116 meshes with pinion 117 fixed on Ia shaft 118 journalled in box 42. Shaft 118 is connected by a universal joint 119 to an externally ribbed rod 120 slidably engaging the ribs of an internally ribbed sleeve 121 which in turn is connected by a universal joint 122 to said shaft 33.

Means is provided to bias the carriage to a normal position, from any position to which it is moved. To this end, .the far end of table top 12 4is provided with a bracket 130 having a horizontal portion 131 formed with a ball socket 132 in its upper side and with an opening 133 connecting the socket with the underside of said portion. A rod 134 has an intermediate ball portion 135 within said socket, and is provided with an upwardly extending portion 136 having a ball 137 slidable in a vertical hole 137a in a bracket 13S xed to said bar 24. A hold down plate 139 xed to portion 131 of bracket 130 serves to hold the ball 135 in its socket 132. Said rod 134 has a portion 140 extending down from ball 135.

A coil tension spring 141 is connected at its upper end to the lower end of rod portion 140.

Attached to the underside of cross-brace 16 is a horizontal plate 144 formed with an opening 145. Attached to the lower end of spring 141 is a pin 150 passing down through opening 145. A cam plate 151 has a handle 152 from which extends a pair of spaced, parallel similar cam plate portions 153 forming a slot or space 154 therebetween. Fixed to the plate portions 153 and traversing the slot 154, is a pin 155 to which the lower end of pin is pivoted. The pull of spring 141 may be tensioned by rotating the cam 151 by means of handle 152. As the cam is rotated, the pin 150 is pulled down to tension the spring.

It will now be understood .that either longitudinal or transverse movement of the carriage will cause the rod 134 to rotate about the ball portion 135 thereof, thereby tensioning the spring 141 which hence biases the carriage back to a predetermined normal position longitudinally and transversely.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an apparatus in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In combination, a stand, a carriage for supporting rolls of material to be stitched, rods having universal connections at their lower ends to the stand and at their upper ends to said carriage, and means on the stand to move said carriage longitudinally and transversely of said stand, and spring means connected to the stand and controlled by movement of the carriage, to bias said carriage back to a normal predetermined position longitudinally and transversely relative to said stand said biasing means comprising a rod having an intermediate universal connection with the stand, and having a universal connection at its upper end with the carriage, and spring means connecting the lower end of the rod .to the stand.

2. In combination, a stand, a carriage above the stand, connector means having universal connections at their lower ends with the lower end of the stand at their upper ends with the carriage, and means on the stand to move the carriage in its plane longitudinally and transversely of the stand, said Imoving means comprising a first slider slidably mounted on said stand, means to reciprocate the first slider transversely of the stand, a longitudinal shaft, means on .the .stand to support said shaft for oscillation, an arm fixed to said shaft, a rst link pivoted to the slider and to said arm, another arm fixed to the shaft, a second link pivoted to said arm and having a longitudinal sliding connection with said carriage, a second slider slidably mounted on said stand, means to reciprocate the second slider longitudinally of said stand, and a third link pivoted to said second slider and having a transverse sliding connection to said carriage.

3. In combination, a stand comprising a table top, pairs of legs .supporting the ends of said .table top, crossbraces attached to said pairs of legs, adjacent their lower ends, pairs of rods having universal connections at their lower ends with the cross-braces, a carriage located above the table top, said rods having universal connections at their upper ends with the carriage, means to reciprocate the carriage longitudinally, and means to reciprocate the carriage transversely.

4. The combination of claim 3, a rod having universal connections to the stand and to the carriage, and a spring connecting the lower end of the last rod to the stand.

S. The combination of claim 4, and means to adjust the tension of said spring.

6. The combination of claim 3, said means to reciprocate the carriage longitudinally comprising a rst slider, means on the .stand to reciprocate the rst slider longitudinally of and on the stand, and means pivoted to said slider and having a transverse sliding connection with the carriage, Isaid means to reciprocate the carriage transversely comprising a second slider, means on the stand to reciprocate said second slider transversely of and on the stand, and means connected to said second slider and having longitudinal sliding connection to said carriage.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. DAVID I. WILLIAMOWSKY, G. V. LARKIN,

Assistant Examiners. 

1. IN COMBINATION, A STAND, A CARRIAGE FOR SUPPORTING ROLLS OF MATERIAL TO BE STITCHED, RODS HAVING UNIVERSAL CONNECTIONS AT THEIR LOWER ENDS TO THE STAND AND AT THEIR UPPER ENDS TO SAID CARRIAGE, AND MEANS ON THE STAND TO MOVE SAID CARRIAGE LONGITUDINALLY AND TRANSVERSELY OF SAID STAND, AND SPRING MEANS CONNECTED TO THE STAND AND CONTROLLED BY MOVEMENT OF THE CARRIAGE, TO BIAS SAID CARRIAGE BACK TO NORMAL PREDETERMINED POSITION LONGITUDINALLY AND TRANSVERSELY RELATIVE TO SAID STAND SAID 